LAS VEGAS, Nevada – For the second consecutive season, Illinois State women's basketball will head out West for a Thanksgiving MTE (multiple team event), after traveling to Irvine, Calif. last season. This year, there will be hopes of high rolling and good luck as the Redbirds head to Las Vegas to compete as part of the UNLV Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by UNLV.
Illinois State will be joined in Vegas by host UNLV, UAlbany, East Tennessee State, George Washington, Stetson, Louisiana Tech, and UC San Diego. The Redbirds get their time in Vegas underway on Friday, Nov. 25, at 8:30 p.m. CT when they face the UC San Diego Tritons for the first time in program history.
Fans who are not able to join the team out in Vegas can tune into WJBC AM 1230 / FM 102.1 / The Varsity Network when the Redbirds are in action. UNLV will NOT be producing live video broadcasts of any tournament games. Game-specific live stats will be provided at goredbirds.com for every ISU game once matchups are determined each day.
Tickets for the UNLV Thanksgiving Classic are available for purchase at UNLVTickets.com. Tickets are single-day admission and are $6 when purchased in advance and $10 at the door.
GAME INFORMATION (Game Notes)
Illinois State v. UC San Diego
When:Â Friday, Nov. 25
Tip-off:Â 8:30 p.m. CT
Location:Â Las Vegas, Nevada
Facility:Â Thomas & Mack Center
Live Stats:Â StatBroadcast Live Stats
Radio:  Illinois State Radio Network                 WJBC 102.1 FM & 1230 AM
LAST TIME OUT
Graduate student Paige Robinson was unstoppable on Sunday as she led all scorers with 37 points, grabbing six boards in front of the hometown crowd as Illinois State took down Big 10 foe, Wisconsin, 62-57. (full recap)
As the Redbirds improve to 3-0 on the 2022-23 season, Sunday marks the first time a Redbird program has defeated Wisconsin in Normal since 1985 when ISU won 64-57 in overtime. The five-point win for the Redbirds marks the first home win over a current Big Ten foe since 2012 when ISU handed Northwestern a 64-46 defeat.
The night got started for ISU as the Redbirds responded early after letting Wisconsin score the opening basket as ISU and stormed out to an 11-0 run over two minutes of game action. After Paige Robinson made it 8-2 ISU with 7:12 in the first quarter, Wisconsin called a timeout in attempts to halt any Redbird momentum.
Once the action resumed, it was Wisconsin going on their own 13-0 run to take a four-point lead as the first quarter winded down. After the first 10 minutes of play, the action was as tight as expected, but ISU would lead 16-15 thanks to a floater from Robinson with five seconds left in the frame.
At the break, Robinson led all scorers with 17 points, 12 of which came in the second quarter only. On the defensive side of the ball, Robinson also led the way with four rebounds as well.
The second half got underway, and ISU came out looking to maintain their lead going up by as many as 12 early in the frame. At the third quarter media timeout, ISU would lead by eight (40-32) as they were looking to stifle up on defense and pull away from the Badgers. The Badgers would trim ISU's lead to six with 3:22 left, before it was back to double digits for the Redbirds thanks to Mary Crompton striking the bottom of the twine.
As the final quarter began, ISU led by 12 but Wisconsin would not go away easily despite falling behind by 17 with 8:30 left on the clock. After calling time, the lead was trimmed from 17 to 4 as the game headed to the final two and a half minutes.
As the home team only led by four points nearing two minutes on the clock, Robinson once more stepped up in a clutch moment, nailing her seventh and final three of the night with the shot clock winding down to give ISU a seven-point cushion heading into the final 120 seconds. Kate Bullman nailed a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to give ISU a seven-point lead before Wisconsin would hit a last second shot to make it the final five-point differential.
For Wisconsin, three players would finish in double digits, led by Serah Williams' 16 points. Meanwhile, Williams and Julie Pospisilova would tie for the team lead with eight rebounds on the night.
SCOUTING THEÂ TRITONS
The Tritons come into Friday after picking up their first win of the 2022-23 season, a 85-76 win over Portland on Sunday. They would be led by a career-high 25 points from Emily Cangelosi, while Sydney Brown added a season-high 21 points.
So far this season, the Tritons have allowed opponents to score 82.0 points per game and are turning over the ball at a rate of 19.0 times per game (57 turnovers total in three games). However, UC San Diego has seen four athletes average double digit scoring in 2022-23, led by Sydney Brown's 17.3 points/game. Brown also leads the program this season with a mark of 8.3 rebounds per game.
At the helm of the Tritons, in her 11th season, is Heidi VanDerveer who is no stranger to what it takes to be successful at the Division I and professional level. A former WNBA coach, Olympic team scout, and assistant for the legendary Pat Summitt at the University of Tennessee, VanDerveer has coached the likes of Sue Bird, Candance Parker, Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, and several more.
After being named head coach at UC San Diego in 2012, VanDerveer has led the Tritons to five NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), five conference championships (2016-2020), and three conference tournament titles (2013, 2019, 2020). The Tritons have also seen five All-Americans, four Conference Players of the Year, and 30 All-Conference honorees under the direction of VanDerveer.
In 2021-22, VanDerveer led the Tritons to a fifth-place finish in the Big West with a 10-8 record (13-14 overall) – marking the program's first winning conference record in year two of Division I competition. The first Division I win for the Tritons and VanDeerveer came on Jan. 2, 2021 over Cal Poly (74-63).
Heidi VanDerveer is the sister of legendary head coach at Stanford University, Tara VanDeerveer.Â
PLAYING THE FIELD
Illinois State's first round opponent, UC San Diego, will be another new program for the Redbirds to face in program history as they have not seen the Tritons in action before.
Meanwhile, against the other six teams (UNLV, Albany, ETSU, George Washington, Stetson, and Louisiana Tech) in the UNLV Thanksgiving Tournament field, Illinois State has only gone up against Louisiana Tech and UNLV in program history. Overall, ISU has gone 1-5 all-time against Louisiana Tech as the last meeting with the Lady Techsters came in Normal in 2009, resulting with a 73-59 win for the Redbirds. Meanwhile, against the host Rebels, there has only been only one meeting, which was a 70-69 win for ISU in 1988 as the game was played in Amarillo, Texas.
FILLING THE STAT SHEET
In what head coach Kristen Gillespie dubbed "probably one of the best performances in Redbird women's basketball history," graduate guard Paige Robinson played lights out on Sunday, Nov. 20, in part of ISU's 62-57 win over Big Ten foe, Wisconsin. The Bethany, Ill native went for 37 points (14-19 FG), including a perfect 7-7 from behind the arc while adding six rebounds and an assist in the five-point victory.
For context: Through games on 11/20/22, no other player in all Division I have gone 7-7 from three this season and no one has done better than that since 2018 (per Calvin Wetzel of Her Hoop Stats). Robinson is also the first player since 2018 to score 37+ points and go a perfect 7-7 from the arc, becoming only the third player to do so since at least the 2009-10 season (when Her Hoop Stats started collecting data).
The 37 points for the guard marks the first time a Redbird has scored 37 in a game since JuJu Redmond did so against Valparaiso last February. Also, as Robinson would make 14 field goals against the Badgers, she became the first Redbird to make 10+ field goals in a game since Redmond did so in last year's March Madness against Iowa.
Robinson's 37 points were second-most in all Division I women's basketball on Sunday, only trailing Villanova's Maddy Siegrist who totaled 41 points off 14-25 shooting. Robinson and Siegrist were two of nine DI women's basketball players with at least 30 points on Sunday, joined by DePaul's Darrione Rogers, North Dakota's Kacie Borowicz, Maryland's Diamond Miller, James Madison's Kiki Jefferson, Iowa State's Ashley Joens, UConn's Azzi Fudd, and Iowa's Cailtin Clark)
STARTING ON THE RIGHT FOOT
With the five-point win over Wisconsin, Redbird women's basketball is 3-0 in 2022-23, marking the first time since the 2020-21 season for a Redbird program to start with this record when ISU would pick up wins over Saint Xavier, Western Illinois, and Omaha to begin that campaign.
AIMING BIG (West, that is)
Although it will be the first time UC San Diego and Illinois State square off, Illinois State is no stranger to playing Big West opponents as they have held seven previous matchups against the conference. Overall, Illinois State has gone 2-5 all-time against the Big West, with their last win coming in 2017 against Long Beach State. In fact, both wins for the 'Birds against the Big West have come against the Beach (1982 and 2017). However, Long Beach State have won the other two meetings between the programs (59-41 in 1972 & 105-63 in 1983).
The other Big West members which Illinois State has squared off with have been UC Irvine during last year's Thanksgiving tournament, resulting in a 67-55 loss for ISU, a meeting with UC Santa Barbara in 1996, as the Gauchos took a slim 69-68 win, and a 1998 meeting with Hawaii, who would defeat the 'Birds 82-56.
GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
On August 20, 2022, Illinois State women's basketball lost one of their own as former standout Simone Goods lost a courageous battle with cancer. Goods finished her time as a Redbird with 2019 All-MVC First Team honors as well as finishing in the program's top-25 for field goals made in a season (190), rebounds in a season (238), career free-throws (227), career blocks (51) and blocks in a season (33).
This season, ISU players and staff will don an "SG" patch on their jerseys and gameday attire to honor the life and legacy of Simone Goods as ISU is dedicating the 2022-23 season in her honor.
MILESTONES TO WATCH
With 225 three-pointers so far in her Redbird career, graduate student Mary Crompton sits only 5 triples away from breaking Kristi Cirone's program record of 229 triples as a Redbird.
The Iowa City, Iowa native also stands with 923 points in her career, as she will look to become the 30th Redbird, second under head coach Kristen Gillespie, to amass the 1,000-point plateau.
Head coach Kristen Gillespie sits with 90 wins at Illinois State, looking to become the first head coach to eclipse 100 wins as a Redbird since current head coach at the University of Missouri, Robin Pingeton. Pingeton would finish her ISU coaching career with a record of 144-81. Gillespie is also five career wins away from 200, currently standing at 195-126.
BATTLE TESTED
Including the season opener at Dayton on Nov. 10, Illinois State has now played six overtime or double overtime games under head coach Kristen Gillespie. In those six games, the Redbirds have gone 4-2 overall, with four of the games taking place during the 2019-20 season.
NEW FACES ALL AROUND
Throughout the 2022-23 season, 7 of Illinois State's opponents (or possible opponents) will be under the direction of a first-year head coach. Four of the seven new faces will come during MVC play as Missouri State, Southern Illinois, Bradley, and UIC all made coaching hires during the offseason.
B1G TIME EFFORT FOR B1G TIME RESULT
With a 62-57-win last Sunday, Illinois State women's basketball saw its first home victory over Wisconsin since December 1985, a 64-57 OT victory. Meanwhile, the five-point win also allowed ISU to pick up its first win over a current Big Ten program since 2012 when ISU handed Northwestern a 64-46 defeat.
The win also moved ISU head coach Kristen Gillespie to 2-2 all-time against current Big Ten schools, with her previous win coming on the road at Illinois in November 2019.
GAINING NATIONAL RECONGITION
The Redbirds have once again claimed a spot in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll, as for the second straight week, the 'Birds move up. After sitting at #14 last week, Illinois State moves up six more spots as they move within the top-10 at #8.
Joining the 'Birds in the top-25 are 2022-23 season opponents Drake (#5), Belmont (#9), and Green Bay (#20). Meanwhile, fellow MVC members Missouri State, Northern Iowa, and Valparaiso are all receiving votes.
REDBIRDS SIGN FOUR TO NLI's
Earlier this season as part of National Signing Day, the Illinois State women's basketball program announced the signings of four high-level talent as part of 2022 National Signing Day. The 2023 recruiting class includes Brooke Coffey (St. Charles, Mo.), Shannon Dowell (O'Fallon, Ill.), Molly Lenz (Eden Prairie, Minn.), and Savannah McGowan (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Coffey, a 6-1 guard from St. Charles Mo., has led the Incarnate Word to 68 straight wins, including multiple state titles, as the program has now captured a total of 12 MO Class 6 Championships. Finally, Coffey will join former Redbirds Kayel Newland and Cameron Call as well as current ISU athlete, DeAnna Wilson, as athletes for ISU women's basketball under Kristen Gillespie to hail from the state of Missouri.
Dowell, a 5-10 guard from O'Fallon, Ill., comes from O'Fallon Township High where she was named First Team Southwestern All-Conference in 2021-22 along with Third Team All State for the IBCA following last year. Dowell has had the chance to learn from five-time IBCA Co-Coach of the Year in District 19 4A (Coach Knolhoff) and amassed 1,000 career points in her junior year as a Panther.
Lenz, a 5-8 guard from Eden Prairie, Minn., was awarded 2021-22 Lake Conference All-Conference and Minnesota Girls Basketball Association All-State Honorable Mention honors. As a junior, Lenz was selected as one of Eden Prairie's three Varsity captains. Lenz will join former Redbird Viria Livingston (from Minneapolis) and fellow signee Savannah McGowan as athletes to come from Minnesota and play for ISU under head coach Gillespie.
McGowan, a 6-2 forward from Minneapolis, Minn., amassed 1,000 career points during her junior season for the Armstrong High Falcons, gaining her All-State honorable mention honors. McGowans joins former Redbird Viria Livingston (also from Minneapolis) as athletes to come from Minnesota and play for ISU under head coach Gillespie.
NEW NAME, SAME ARENA
Illinois State University and CEFCU have come to terms on a naming rights and sponsorship agreement valued at approximately $3.1 million over 10 years. The agreement, which will support the funding for ongoing and ever-evolving costs associated with the student-athlete experience, was initiated by LEARFIELD's Redbird Sports Properties, the University's athletics multimedia rightsholder. The former Redbird Arena will be known as CEFCU Arena – Home of the Redbirds, with the University's Board of Trustees approving the arena name change at its October 14 meeting. The CEFCU Arena naming rights and sponsorship agreement will continue to support funding of the Redbird Student-Athlete experience. Particularly in these ever-evolving times, funding is vital to maintaining and expanding upon the current NCAA, Division I student-athlete experience.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are available for the 2022-23 season. Follow this link to purchase your season tickets or contact the Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000 for more information. Tickets start at just $65 for general admission to the women's season.Â
For all latest on Illinois State women's basketball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @RedbirdWBB (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:Â Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
